Training Diverse Audiences & Driving Business Value through Extended LMS

Today, different enterprises have different kinds of learners who need to undergo effective training. Do you think about training your customers on how to use a specific product? Or do you want your partners to get certified after acquiring enough product knowledge? Then, Learning Management System(LMS) for extended enterprise including customers, resellers, partners, sales representatives and others, serves as a viable solution. It holds the ability to reach out to multiple audiences via the same platform and provide them personalized training experience, based on their tailored needs and preferences.

To stay ahead of the curve, organizations now need to push their talent management beyond the confines of the enterprise which includes the extended workforce. Also, as external employees work outside an organization and are mostly on-the-go, it is crucial to impart them training- anytime and anywhere. Discussed below are some of the benefits of using an enterprise LMS to train the extended workforce:

Engaging widespread audiences through mobile apps

As per the research by Aberdeen, companies that leverage mobile technology to support their learning strategy are 58% more likely to attain best in class outcomes. [Source: https://yourstory.com/mystory/51b8279651-scope-of-mobile-app-de]. With the help of innovative mobile apps, internal as well as external employees can access training courses at their own pace of time and convenience. Learners who have to take out time for training from their busy work schedule can engage and participate more if they can access personalized mobile learning apps on their mobile devices.

Training sales reps, resellers, customers and more

Different target audiences- resellers, customers, partners, sales representatives and others; need different kinds of training based on their bespoke needs. This makes the use of extended LMS an effective solution to train the globally diversified workforce. An effective training for external network aids learners to gain expertise on products, services, organizational policies, industry compliance and more. Training channel partners and customers result in increased levels of knowledge retention, engagement and overall customer satisfaction.

Tracking individual performances

To track and measure the performances of employees outside an enterprise is a daunting task. The deployment of extended e-learning platforms helps to create reports based on the time a learner spends on specific courses. Consequently, it helps to track training completions and create reports based on their overall performance during training.

Undoubtedly, Extended LMS boosts the overall satisfaction of the external workforce as they can connect more and apprise themselves on newer products with their prospective clients. Providing training outside the organization is an important strategic tool to help organizations improve their business line.

Gaining a Competitive Edge Using Modern LMS for Extended Enterprise

With the advent of internet technologies, organizations have set a major difference in the way they impart training to engage and retain the modern workforce. Extended enterprise learning, aims at training non-employees and impact their behavioral changes.

Organizations work to tailor the existing LMSs for specific audience needs as well as, an in-house development team to cater to the bespoke business requirements. The extended enterprise is more than technology, which requires an organization to provide e-courses beyond internal workforce, through external distribution channels. 

With ever-increasing business expectations, the scope of using extended LMS for workplace learning leads to better employee productivity, knowledge retention and greater impact on the bottom line. As the extended network of employees, work from varied locations, it becomes imperative to use an external e-learning platform which is mobile-supported, flexible and easy to access. Extended enterprise learning appears in varied forms as discussed below:

• Dealer workforce training

Automotive companies know how to address the challenges of training their extended dealer network. Therefore, ensuring consistency of training across the contingent personnel is critical for the delivery of an incredible customer service. Today, robust online learning platforms are integrated with Dealer Management Systems (DMSs) to provide training- anytime and anywhere. A significant data is utilized from DMS so that dealer employees, can trigger the LMS for an effective content delivery.

• Workforce compliance training

Industries such as transportation, oil & gas and retail, need to timely update their workforce on regulatory compliances. An extended LMS is efficient enough in delivering mobile-based compliance training to the workers and contractors based at diverse locations.

• Partner channel training

Several companies in the manufacturing, telecom and other sectors comprise of independent partners that resell their products and services on a global scale. So, it is crucial to certify the extended workforce on the entire product range and deliver just-in-time performance support. This ensures an overall improvement in organizational sales, business productivity and customer satisfaction. 

Modern organizations leverage opportunities to train their extended enterprise in an effective way. Using an extended LMS, they aim to engage, motivate and retain learners, thereby combining the business and training outcomes into one measurable program. While e-learning began as an internal workforce training program, organizations have now realized the need to provide online courses beyond and outside their four walls. So, when extended employee training begins with strategic decision-making via a powerful distribution network, the outcomes can leave a great impact on an organization’s overall reach, brand value and growth.